Gummy fruit snacks are one of your fave munchies, and we
don’t blame ya! They’re often packed with vitamins, are super low-cal and all
you’ve gotta do it tear open a package and chow down. According to The
Huffington Post, however, these innocent
looking snacks contain ingredients that are just plain ol’ gross.

Since gummies are processed foods, they’ve been engineered
to taste, smell and look as delicious as they do. And they’re packed with
preservatives to make ‘em last for awhile on grocery store shelves. But the
most ew-wrothy item of notice? Their ingredients.

Vegans and vegetarians might object to the gelatin that
makes them so, well, gummy. Gelatin is made from animal bones and cartilage—not
the best option, probably, if you’re staying away from animal products. And
that artificial shine? Yeah, it comes from carnauba wax, which is derived from
the leaves of palm trees. It’s also the same wax we use to shine cars, floors
and surf boards. Still with us? The cheery reds and yellows in your handful of
gummies comes from petroleum. Some of the food colorings used in our fruit
snacks are even banned outside the U.S.

Still love your fruit snacks but don’t want to eat the
ingredients in them? No worries! Look for all-natural or organic alternatives
to fruit snacks. Also, you can try other quick and easy snacks such as fresh
fruit, dried fruit, raw veggies, cheese and crackers, yogurt or nuts.

Tell us what YOU think! Will you totally give up fruit
snacks or are you still on Team Gummy = Yummy?